Jordan Coppin, 18, from Eye, died after the red Rover 214 he was driving left the road at Yaxley and hit a tree just after midnight on April 7 last year.

The inquest heard it was not known what had caused the learner to crash and his mother, Anne Coppin, still did not know why he had taken the decision to go out in the car on his own.

After the crash Jordan, who went to Diss High School and lived in Magdalen Street, was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, where he died from a severe and traumatic brain injury 11 days after the accident.

Suffolk coroner Peter Dean said Jordan’s mother “does not know why he decided to take the car on his own that night”.

His brother Adam had said Jordan seemed in a “happy mood” before he left to pick up his friend.

Dr Dean added that police were “unable to specify the cause of the collision itself” but it may have been caused because he was swerving to avoid something or had used the brakes inappropriately.

He added: “Jordan was a learner driver and had been taken formal driving lessons.

“It was clearly a tragic accident that took place.”

Dr Dean recorded a verdict of accidental death and offered his thoughts and condolences to Jordan’s family and friends.

After the inquest at Lowestoft Magistrates’ Court, Ms Coppin said: “I am grateful for all the comments his friends have made about him on Facebook.

“I know he made an big impact on all the people and friends who knew him. We are still struggling with what happened.”

At the time of his death Jordan had just started a Sunday job at his local Co-op store and he also worked at Cornwallis Country Hotel in nearby Brome.

A former pupil at Hartismere School, he attended the sixth form at Diss High School where he studied classics, sociology and psychology and was in line to get good A-level results.

He had hoped to become a primary school teacher and had won a glowing report during a work placement at Stoke Ash School.

Jordan had two brothers, Lawrence and Adam.

After his death, Lawrence paid tribute to his brother by saying: “Jordan was an amazing brother who was full of life, confident and who had a brilliant sense of humour – truly someone who had so much potential in life.

“He was loved by everyone who ever met him and I’d like to say how proud myself and Adam were of the man he was just becoming.”

Jan Hunt, headteacher at Diss High School, had also paid tribute to Jordan by saying the 18-year-old was a very popular student and had a character that made people warm to him